Ubiquitination and deubiquitination of PCNA in response to stalling of the replication fork

Stephanie Brown, Atsuko Niimi, Alan R. Lehmann

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

39 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Following exposure of human cells to DNA damaging agents that block the progress of the replication fork, mono-ubiquitination of PCNA mediates the switch from replicative DNA polymerases to polymerases specialised for translesion synthesis. We have shown that this modification of PCNA is necessary for the survival of cells after UV-irradiation and methyl methanesulfonate, that it is independent of cell cycle checkpoint activation, and that it persists after UV damage has been removed. In this Extra-view, we compare the regulation and biological significance of PCNA ubiquitination following treatments with UV light and the replication inhibitor hydroxyurea. We show that ubiquitination persists after removal of the replication block in both cases. With UV however, the persistence of ubiquitinated PCNA correlates with disappearance of the PCNA deubiquitinating enzyme USP1, whereas this is not the case for HU. Prevention of PCNA ubiquitination sensitises the cells to killing by both UV and HU.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)689-692
Number of pages4
JournalCell Cycle
Volume8
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01-03-2009
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Molecular Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

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